Grinding machinery



C. BOOTH GRINDING MACHINERY Nai R4, 1931.

Filed March 2'7. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' 23 (Zzwmr 50077/ July 14, c. BQOTH 4 1,814,355

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed March 2'7. 1929 -5 Shets-Sheet 2 July 14, 1931. c. BOQTH 9 4 3 GRINDING- MACHINERY Filed March 27.- 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I w innnfinnnnnnnnnin Zg 5 sneet-shet 4 C. BOOTH GRINDING MACHINERY v RQ Q I l I U m Filed March 27. 1,929

July/14, 1931.

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Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEMENT BOOTH, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIeNo'a; To CINCINNATI e-RINnERs IN- CCRPCRATED, CF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A ORPCNATICN or OHIO GRINDING MACHINERY Application filed March 27, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in grinding machinery and has particular reference to that type of mechanism commonly known as a centerless grinder.

Prior to the present invention grinding machines of this general type have been utilized for the rapid and economical pro duction of cylindrical or like members of circular form in cross section.

In the performance of such grinding however, the work piece has ordinarily been supported upon a work rest between grinding and regulating wheels and allowed to float in this position determining or establishing its own center as the grinding progresses, which center may be either concentric with or eccentric to the original axis of the work piece.

lVhile the foregoing has been very advantageous in the production of any article in which the prime consideration is that of accurate sizing and proper grinding to true circular form in cross section, this general type of machine has not been capable of use in the grinding of articles having a previously established bore or center with which the outer surface must be concentric, due to its principle of operation embodying the self determination of the location of axis in the finished work piece. It is one of the objects of the present invention to render the general principles of centerless grinding and efiiciency of results attained thereby, capable of utilization in connection with the formation of an exterior peripheral surface concentric with predetermined centers, inner surface or the like on a work piece.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel machine embodying certain principles hitherto utilized in ordinary centerless grinding which will accommodate initially 0utof-round or irregular work and satisfactorily grind same to proper form but about a. fixed and predetermined axis.

Another object of the invention is'the provision of a novel and improved means for supporting the work during the performance of the grinding and for insuring the ready disengagement of the work from its support- Serial No. 350,410.

ing members to insure rapid ejection or re moval of the work from the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel and improved means for satisfactorily, yieldingly' supporting. the regulating wheel member of the grinding machine for yielding movement relative to the work piece and grinding wheel while permitting of the driving or actuation thereof by the normal non-yieldingly mounted or stationary regulating wheel spindle of a standard grinder. v

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming-a part thereof, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific structural details and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described within the scope of the appended claims without de parting from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof with the wheel guards broken away.

Figure 3 isa vertical section through the regulating wheel mounting and drive therefor, taken as on line 33 of-Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the regulating wheel drive as on line l4 of Figure 3. v Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken as on line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure (Sis an enlarged view of the mounting and guiding means for the regulating wheel.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 2 illustrating the position occupied by the work in the machine and the steadying means therefor.

Figure 8 is a detail view of the work re lease actuating mechanlsm.

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the 4 work and work rest as on line 99 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an end v1ew of the machine as seen from right hand end of Figure 1 certain parts being removed, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating an alternative form of slide interlock structure.

In the drawings in which similar charactersof reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates the bed of a machine of the general centerless grinder type having mounted thereon the wheel head 21 bearing the grinding wheel 22 intended to be operated in the direction indicated by the arrow thereomat a high rate of speed for proper stock removal from a work piece.

At the opposite end of the bed is a main slide 23 supporting in turn a supplemental slide 24 for the regulating wheel unit 25 including a regulating wheel 26 operated at a slow rate of speed inthe direction of the arrow indicated thereon for presenting a progresslve friction surface engaging the work and regulating or controlling the rate of rotation thereof.

In machine prior to the present invention the regulating wheel unit 25 has included a slowly driven spindle27 ordinarily having a tapered portion 28 on which the wheel 26 is directly mounted.

In the present invention however, the unit includes a frame or housing 29 hearing the trunnion 30 on which is oscillatably supported the regulating wheel supporting frame 31 including a tubular portion or sleeve 32.

The trunnion 30 is a relatively long bearingand has its axisextending in parallelism with the axis of the spindle 27. This trunnion is rigidly mounted and is unyielding when the regulating wheel supporting frame 31 is oscillated. The regulating wheel therefore swings in a true are about the axis of the said trunnion 30 and'at all times maintains a line cont-act with the work piece while controlling and rotating it. Therefore, while the regulating wheel is yieldingly mounted it can move only in a path having a definite relation to the axis of the spindle 27 In structures heretofore employing a yielding or resilient regulating wheel it has been found that the wheel had a tendency not only of moving in a plane at right angles to its axis of rotation but also a skewing or canting movement causing the said regulating wheel to have other than a line contact with the work.

Carried by the sleeve 32 are suitable antifriction bearings 33 for the regulating wheel supporting member comprising a sleeve 34 rotatably supported by the anti-friction bearings'and having an outwardly directed orflanged portion 35 inter-locking with the cap member 36 to prevent ingress of dirt,

is moisture and the like to the bearings 33.

Beyond flange 35 is a second sleeve portion 37 of greater diameter than the sleeve 34 while mounted on this portion is the regulating wheel 26 secured in position as by the tubular nut 38 having a portion overlying the spindle proper 27.

By reference to Figure 6 it will be noted that member 32 terminates in an outwardly extending lug or ear portion 39 projecting into the path of plunger 40 actuated toward the grinding wheel by coil spring 41 contained in socket 42 of frame 29.

Tension of this spring is varied by adjustment of the screw 43 while the forward or inward swinging movement of member 29 under influence of the spring is variably limited by the adjustable stop screw 44 car ried by the forward portion of frame member 29.

It will thus be seen that the regulating wheel is suitably supported 'for limited for.-

ward and backoscillation as respects the grinding wheel.

To facilitate driving of the regulating wheel at a constant and uniform rate of speed irrespective of the oscillation thereof, use is made of an Oldham couplingcomprising a nut member 45 secured on the threaded portion 46 of the spindle end 28 and having formed on one face the pair of lugs or wing portions 47 slidably engaged in the radial slots or notches 48 of intermediate coupler plate 49 which is in turn provided with the projecting rib 50 slida-bly interlooking with slot 51in plug 52 secured within the bore of sleeve 30 against rotation relative thereto as by set screw 53.

Upon rotation of spindle 27 drive will be effected through lugs 47 and rib 50 to sleeve 34 vwhile the inter-engaged tongue and groove connection between the several parts will permit of the limited oscillation of the regulating wheel supporting-unit without in any wise effectingithe rotative drive thereof.

From time to timeit is necessary to retrue the face of the regulating wheel so that it maintains proper contact with work piece. It will be realized that proper .truing could not be obtained if the wheel were permitted .to float while'being trued, therefore means have been provided to lock the regulating wheel against such floating movem'ent.

By reference to Figures 3 and 8 it will be noted that lug 39 is provided with a threaded perforation for receiving the threaded end of a binding or'locking screw 90. vThis binding or locking screw has a head 91 extending into and movable through anarcuate slot 92 formed in the forward face of the frame member 29. The head 91 is normally spaced from the seat 93 of theslot thereby permittingthe regulating wheel to swing under the influence of spring 42. l Vhen it is desired to true the regulating wheel or to lock said regulating wheel against yielding movement under the influence .of spring 42 the binding or locking screw 90 is turned thereby tending to draw the lug 39 toward the frame member 29 and clamping the regulating wheel support.

The general work supporting mechanism will be best understood by reference to Figures 7 and 9, from which it will be seen that there is secured to slide 23 a work rest block 55 bearing abracket member 56. This bracket has a taper socket 57 to receive'stud 58 rotatably supporting the work engaging sleeve member 59 having a terminal portion 60 of slightly tapered form adapted to act as a plug fitting the bore 61 of the bushing or other tubular work piece 62 indicated in operative position within the machine. A thrust bearing 63 intermediate the flanges 64 and 65 of the member 58 and sleeve 59 respectively takes up end thrust and facilitates free rotation of the work engaging member.

Disposed in opposition to the bracket 56 is a slide 66 having rising therefrom the bracket 67 having a taper socket 68 to receive the taper shank member 69 on which is rotatably mounted a second plug sleeve 7 0 adapted to fit into the opposite end of the work piece 62. A second antifriction bean. ing as at 71 facilitates rotation of member with respect to member 69. This slide 66 may be actuated in any suitable manner either manually or automatically, the par-- ticular mechanism here illustrated comprising a rock shaft 72 extending longitudinally of the bed and coupled with the slide as by rock levers 7 3. At its opposite end the shaft is operatively associated through a lost-motion link 7 4 with the control handle 75 which serves to oscillate shifting sleeve 76 on the adjusting screw 54 to impart in and out movement to the slides 23 and 24.

As lever 75 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction rotating sleeve 76 and forcing the regulating wheel unit and associate parts in the direction of the grinding wheel, slide 66 will be pressed inward, moving member 70 toward member 60 to suitably engage a work piece tl'ierebetweenwhile reverse movement of the lever 75 separating the grinding and regulating wheels and opening up the grinding throat will correspondingly oppositely shift the two work engaging members to disengage the work piece.

To facilitate insertion of the work piece between said engaging members, use is preferably made of the supplemental slide 77 movable along the upper surface of block 55 by the slide 66. For this purpose the slide 66 carries a tongue or link 100 from which a pin 83 extends being received in a slot 84 formed in the carrier 77 whereby the slides 66 and 77 may be moved as a unit and the slide 66 may be moved independently, This of the slide and tioning block 77 has a supplemental recess as at 80 to receive this ri'b while projecting upwardly from the member 77, adjacent the terminus of the work piece is the stripper 81'. T

In the operation of this mechanism when the wheels are separated, supporting block 77 occupies a position outside or substan-;

tially forwardly of the grinding throat, its

outward movement being limited by inter-- engagement of the slide with the stop 82 on c the block 55.

In this position a work piece may be readily dropped into the trough 78. The coupling of member 79 with slide 66 consists of a lost motion connection such as afforded by pin 83 on one ofsaid parts riding in longitudinally extending slot 84 of the adjacent part. 011 inward movement of the slide 66 the pin will ride in'the slot to its inner end, during which member 70 will enter the forward end of the work piece, the relationship of parts being such that the work piece is supported substantially in axial alignment with the member 70 but slightly there-below so that the taper on member 70 will be suflicient to permit slight lifting of the work piece out of the supporting trough.

On continued inward movement, the inner end of the work piece will contact with plug 60 and be forced on to said plug, this end being also raised from the supporting trough so that the work is now positively supported on the members 60 and 70 just out of engagement with the work positioningslide 77 and is held for rotation between the grinding and regulating wheels.

Mention has been made of the fact that the work supporting mechanism is carried by a slide 23 which in turn supports the regulating wheel unit slide 24. That the parts may properly function it is desirable that the slides in question have a joint advancing and retracting movement as respects the grindingwheel and in addition an independ ent relative movement facilitating insertion and removal of. work pieces. To attain these results slide 23 bears a pin 85 coupled by coil spring 86 with tension adjusting screw 87 on slide 2 Slide 28 is oscillatable on the bed between theinneradjustable stop member 88 which serves to limit the movement thus of the work supporting lugs 60 and 7 O in the direction of the grinding-wheel on the one end and the adjustable stop 89 serving'to limit its retracting move ment. I

As sleeve 76 is rotated by lever 75 slide 24 is retracted, the tension of spring 86 bemg sufficient to move slide 23 and thus the work carrying unit therewith said slide 23 contacts with stop 89. Further movement Y of slide 24 tension spring 86 holding member 23 against its stop but withdrawing the regulating wheel unit to such an extent that lug 39will engage screw A l limiting forward swinging of the regulating wheel when the entire regulating wheel will be moved into position dis-engaging the work piece. This operation takes place prior to the ejecting action of member 77 on the work piece. A new work piece may then be inserted as previously described and control lever 7 5 reversely operated moving slide 24: and thus the regulating wheel in the di rectionof the grinding wheel until the regulating wheel comes into contact with the work when the influence of spring 86 tends to 'force the work rest there-against when the entire structure will be moved inward as a unit against the grinding wheel for suitable stock removal from the Work piece.

The ultimate inward movement of slide 23' constant and uniform rotation of the work irrespective of its irregular form until its outer surface has been reduced to a cylinder concentric with the predetermined axis therefor. The reverse rocking of the lever then withdraws the slides jointly and individually as previously described and at the same time causes disengagement of the work from its centers or retaining plugs as well as disengagement thereof by the regulating wheel so that the same may be removed from the machine and a new piece substituted.

'In Figure 11 is shown a slight modification of the connection between the slides in which in place of utilizing stop 88 to limit the movement of the'work supporting centers in the direction of the grinding wheel, 55

slide 24 has a depending abutment lug 90a bearing the adjustable stop screw 9la for cooperation with terminal abutment 92a of slide 23. The cooperation of these parts limit the relative movement of slides 23 and 2st under the influence of spring 86 in which event slide 23 is positively fed forward a definite amount by rotation of the sleeve nut 76, and the work size determined by the in- .ward shifting ottlie work centering members with respect to the grinding wheel.

I claim:

1. A grinding machine of the centerless type including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby and operable at a high grinding rate of speed, a work supporting slide carried by the bed and having a work centering mechanism projecting adjacent the operative surface of the grinding wheel, a supplemental slide carried by the first slide and bearing a regulating wheel, means yieldingly urging the regulating wheel in the direction of the work support and means for ointly shifting the regulating wheel and work support in the direction of the grinding wheel. 8

2. A machine of the character described including a bed or support,"a grinding wheel carried thereby, a main slide carried by the bed and bearing a work supporting unit, a supplemental slide carried by the main slide for movement therewith and relative thereto, and means resiliently coupling said slides.

3. A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a main slide carried by the bed and bearing a work supporting unit, a supplemental slide carried by the main slide for movement therewith and relative thereto, means resiliently coupling said slides, means for positively shifting one of said slides and means for limiting'the movement transmitted thereby to the other of said slides.

4:. A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a main slide carried by the bed and bearing a work supporting unit, a supplemental slide carried by the main slide for movement therewith and-relative thereto, means resiliently coupling said slides, a regulating wheel pivotally supported by the supplemental slide and impositive means 'for urging the regulating wheel about its pivot in the direction of the grinding whee 5. A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a main slide carried by the bed and bearing a work supporting unit, a

, supplemental slide carried by the main slide for movement therewith and relative thereto, means resiliently coupling said slides, a reg- ,ulating wheel pivotally supported by the supplemental slide, impositive means. for urging the regulating wheel about its pivot in the direction of the grinding wheel, and means for positively limiting the pivotal movement ofthe regulating wheel in said direction.

6. A machine'of the character described including a bed or support,a grindingwheel carried thereby, main and supplemental slides mounted thereon for joint or .independent movement, means yieldably coupling the slidesfor controlling said movement, a work supporting unit carried by one of said slides, a regulating wheel carriedby izb i ar

the other of-said slides, and an impositive coupling between the regulating wheel and its slide for permitting relative yielding movement of said parts.

including work engaging centers, a supple-- mental slide carried by the main slide, a regulating wheel supported by the supplemental slide,'means automatically urging the slides into telescoping relation, additional means for urging the regulating wheel relative the supplementaljshde 1n the d rection of the work supporting centers, and means for jointly movingith'e slides in a direction to ward and from the grinding wheel;

8; In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a grinding wheel, of a slide movable toward and from the grinding wheel, a driven spindle carried by the slide in fixed relation thereto, a regulating wheel unit supported by the'slide for limited movement relative the slide, and driving connections between 5 the spindle and regulating wheel for constant actuation of the latter irrespective of change in position thereof.

9. The combination with a centerless grinding machine including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby and a slide carried by the support bearing a driven regulating wheel spindle, of a trun nion supported by the slide, a frame pivotally mounted on thetrunnion, means yieldably limiting the pivotal movement of the frame, a regulating wheel supporting sleeve journaled in the frame and having a portion overlying the spindle, a regulating wheel carried by said portion, and drive connec 'tions between the'spindle and sleeve for ac.- tuation of the latter irrespective of pivotal movement of the frame.

10. A machine for generation of outer cylindrical surface about a predetermined axis including opposed grinding and regulating wheels operable respectively at a high grinding rate of speed and at a slow work controlling rateof speed, means yieldingly urging said parts in a direction one toward the other and an intermediate work supporting unit movable with and relative to one of said wheel members, said work supporting unit including a pair of centers for terminal engagement with opposite ends of the work piece to establish the axis of rotation thereof.

11. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination with a work rest bracket, of a fixed center carried thereby, a work positioning block slidably mounted thereon having a work receiving groove, a second work positioning member carried by the bracket in axial alignment with the fixed member and means supporting said second member for movement with and relative to the work positioning block whereby said second member may be brought into terminal engagement with a work piece and the engaged work piece and supporting block moved to cause inter-engagement of the oppQsite end of the work piece with the fixed center substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a work supporting bracket, of a fixed center carried thereby, a movable center slidably mounted thereon, awork positioning block having a work receiving groove intermediate said centers for supporting a work piece prior to operative engagement of the centers therewith, said block being movable with and relative to one of the centers and stripper members carried by the block for respectively disengaging the work piece from the centers during its joint andindependent movement. v

18. A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting. slide mounted on the bed, relatively movable work centers carried by the slide for gripping a work piece therebetween, a sup lemental regulating wheel slide carried by the first slide, means yieldingly urging the regulating wheel in the direction of the centers for engagement with a work piece supported thereby and control means for successively producing engagement of a selected work piece by the centers and by the regulating wheel.

14. A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting slide mounted on the bed, relatively movable work centers carried by the slide for grippinga work piece therebetween, a supplemental regulating wheel slide carriedb y the first slide, means yieldingly urging the regulating wheel in the direction of the centers for engagement with "a work piece supported therebyfcontrol means for successively producing engagement of a selected work piece by the centers and by the regulating wheel, and for subsequently shifting the center and regulating wheel engaged work piece into engagement with the grinding wheel. '15. ,A machine of the character described including a bed or support, a grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting slide mounted onthe bed, relatively movable work centers carried by the slide for gripping a work piece therebetween, a supplementalv regulating wheel slide carried by the first slide, means yieldingly urging the regulating wheel in the direction of the centers for engagement with a work piece supported thereby, control means forvsuccessively producing engagement of a selected work piece by the centers and by the regulating wheel, for subsequently shifting the center and regulating wheel engaged work piece into engagement with the grinding wheel, and means operable on reverse shifting of the parts for positively disengaging the work piece from the centers.

16. A mechanism for frictionally controlling rotation of a centered work piece during grinding including a support member, a slide mounted thereon, work positioning centers carried by the slide, a second slide mounted for movement with and relative to the first slide, means for positively imparting movement to the second slide, yield able means urging the first slide in opposition' to the positive impelling force for the second slide, a regulating wheel unit carried by the second slide including a regulating wheel for engagement with a work piece between the centers on the first sliderand yielding means for urging the regulating wheel relative its slide in the same direction as the positive shitting movement of said slide.

I 17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels, one of said wheels being fixed with respect to the other, the other wheel having a spindle and a resilient mounting relative to its spindle and means for rendering said resilient mounting ineffective.

18. In a centerless grinder the combination of a pair of opposed rotating grinding and regulating members, one of said members having a spindle fixed as respects the other, the second member having a spindle parallel with the first spindle and movable relative thereto, a resilient connection between the second member and its spindle,

and means for rendering the resilient connection ineffective.

19. In a grinding machine the combination of a bed, a grinding wheel rotatably supported by the bed, a main slide carried by the bed for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, means supported by the said slide for supporting a work piece for rotation about a predetermined axis, a supplemental slide carried by the main slide, means limiting the movement of the main slide toward the grinding wheel to definitely position theaxial approach of the work to the grinding wheel, and means carried by the supplemental slide for controlling the rotation of the work.

20. In a grinding machine the combination of a bed, a grinding wheel rotatably supported by the bed, a main slide carried by the bed for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, means supported by the said slide for supporting a work piece for rotation about a predetermined axis, a supplemental slide carried by the main slide, means limiting the movement of the. main slide toward the grinding wheel to definitely position the axial approach ofthe work to the grinding wheel, and means yieldably carried by the supplemental slide yieldably urged toward the work supporting means to maintain frictional contact with the work and control its rotation.

21. In a grinding machine the combination of a bed, a rotating grinding wheel carried thereby,a work supporting slide carried by the bed for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, means onthe slide for rotatably supporting a work piece for rotation about a definite axis, a work rotation controlling slide carried by the work slide. for movement therewith and relative thereto, means. supported by the rotation controlling slide for" frictionally engaging the surface of the work to thereby control its rotation, means yieldably mounting the rotation controlling means and urging same toward the work supporting means, means for actuating the slides as a unit toward the grindingwheel to feed the work piece into said grinding wheel, and means for. limiting the movement of the work supporting. slide to definitely position the axis of the work piece relative to the grinding. wheel. I

' 22. In a grinding machine the combination of a bed, a rotating grinding wheel carried thereby, a work supporting slide-carried by the bed for movement toward and from the grinding wheel, means on the slide for rotatably supporting a work piece for rotation about a definite axis, a work rotation controlling slide carried by the work slide for movement therewith and relative thereto, means supported by the rotation controlling slide for frictionally engaging the surface of'the work to thereby control its rotation, means yieldably mounting the rotation controlling means and urging same toward the work supporting means, means for actuating the slides as a unit toward the grinding wheel to feed. the workpiece into said grinding wheel, means for limiting the movement of the work supporting slide to definitely position the axis of the work piece relative to the grinding wheel, and a flexible coupling between the slides whereby they may be moved as a unit until the engagement of the work supporting slide with the stop whereupon the work con? trolling slide may move relative to the work supporting slide.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLEMENT BOOTH. 

